Chapter 2. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by an
external force. Common causes (see right) include falls, car accidents, as-
sault or being struck by objects such as might occur during sport. TBI
is classified according to its severity: mild, moderate or severe. From a medical
perspective this judgment is based on what’s known as the Glasgow Coma Scale
(GCS), which assesses motor, verbal and eye-opening responses. The scale runs
from 3 to 15, where 3 is assigned to someone who is dead or comatose and 15 is
normal. Someone with a mild TBI generally has a GCS of 13–15.
In the absence of clinical assessment, TBI is considered moderate-to-severe
if there is a loss of consciousness that is longer than 30 minutes and amnesia –
memory loss – lasts for more than 24 hours. It’s mild if those conditions are not
met. Concussion is classified as a mild TBI.
WHAT IS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?
SYMPTOMS OF TBI
MODERATE TO SEVERE TBI
Accounts for 10% of all cases
SYMPTOMS:
l slurred speech
l profound confusion
l seizures
l persistent headaches
l coma
MILD TBI
Accounts for 90% of all cases
(based on WHO information)
SYMPTOMS:
l headaches
l dizziness & fatigue
l sleeping difficulties
l memory & concentration problems
l blurred vision
MAJOR CAUSES OF
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES*
1% SUICIDE
11% ASSAULT
19% STRUCK BY OBJECTS (INCL. SPORTS)
20% MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
21% OTHER
28% FALLS
*Based on
information from
the National
Center for Injury
Prevention and
Control, CDC
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